Italian Chocolate Walnut Cake (Flourless)
"This is an extremely rich cake which is easy to prepare. The inside is soft and rather creamy. While it is great the first day, we think the flavor improves the second (if you still have any left!). Cooking time does not include cooling time in the oven."
photo by Mr.Blitzer
- Ready In:
- 55mins
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Yields:
-
1 cake
ingredients
- 100 g butter
- 350 g bittersweet chocolate (use a good quality)
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 5 large eggs
- 250 g granulated sugar
- 130 g walnuts, divided
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, to garnish
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, to garnish
directions
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C.
- Lightly oil (or butter) a non-stick 20 cm springform pan; if yours is not non-stick, butter the bottom, line bottom with parchment paper, then butter the sides and the parchment as well.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a heat-proof glass bowl over a pot of simmering water, stirring with a wooden spoon until both are completely melted and the mixture is smooth; take the bowl off the heat (and off the pan of water).
- Mix the instant coffee granules and 3 TBS cocoa powder into the chocolate mixture and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the granulated sugar together for five minutes at high speed, until they are light in color and thickened.
- Grind 30 g of the walnuts in a spice or coffee mill until they become a fine powder.
- Coarsely chop the remaining walnuts.
- Stir the ground walnuts and walnut pieces into the egg mixture.
- Carefully fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until they are completely combined (I like to use a glass bowl so I can see that I've done so).
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
- Bake 40 minutes or until the top of the cake is dry.
- Turn the oven off, leaving the cake undisturbed IN THE OVEN to cool COMPLETELY.
- When the cake is cooled, remove from the oven.
- Remove the cake from the pan, remove parchment paper if used, and sprinkle with the reserved cocoa powder and powdered sugar.
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Reviews
-
Thank you for this amazing recipe. The minute I placed the cake on the table it was gone!! I used a full cup of walnuts dived as per the recipe. I kept the cake for 2 hours inside the oven to cool. Then I transferred it straight to the fridge for another 2 hours before serving it. It is very rare that you come across a simple recipe like this one, and end up with a delicious result. Thanks again!!! -
I just made this cake today and used the advice in the comments and left it for a few hours after cooking. I tasted it and it was extremely rich, very very filling and a tiny slice was enough to fill me. I made this cake because I was extremely intrigued about the fact that this cake had no flour and wanted to see how it would turn out. It was extremely moist and wet and sticky, beautiful. Extremely filling and very naughty! I found the cake extremely easy and quick to make, it does rise a ot so make sure that the tin that you put the mix in has a bit of room at the top. The walnuts really did make the cake fantastic, it would just be goo if there was not a crunchy walnut flavour in there. I also had fun with the cocoa powder and icing sugar garnish on top. Picture will be posted up soon. -
This cake is quite good! I took note of the other comments and cut down on the baking time a smidge and then left the oven door ajar to help it cool faster. The meringue on top collapsed a little, which maybe it's not supposed to, but the result was a fudgy, delicious cake! Yum! One other comment is that I think the cake might be better without the walnuts. -
I originally rated this cake 4 stars, but am amending my review after the cake has had a little time to improve with a few hours of "age." I managed to wrestle with the conversion of the ingredients from metrics, and I used an oven thermometer and left it in the over for less time than the recipe called for - just in case. At first, it was indeed "dry" and actually hard to swallow. Amazingly, after it sat around for the afternoon, it became creamier and much more appealing. I do not know what an Italian flourless cake is supposed to taste like, but I believe that I followed the recipe correctly and I do like the results. I would describe the top layer as almost meringue-like and the inside is…powdery/moist. It’s hard to put my finger on it but it is definitely NOT fudge-like or like a brownie, so if you are looking for that, you will be disappointed. I do prefer other types of chocolate cake, but if anyone ever wants me to recommend a good recipe for an Italian flourless cake, I would suggest this one, as I believe that it is a 5 star recipe for what it is. Thanks for posting, it was a fun adventure. -
This cake has a very good taste, but is on the dry side. I made it just like the recipe stated. I think leaving it in the oven for so long dries it out to much.I am going to make it again as we love the flavor, very good with Ice Cream.I want to see what happens not leaving the oven not as long maybe 1 hour after baking for 40 minutes.
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
FlemishMinx
Belgium
I am an American married to a Belgian, and have lived in Belgium since December 1999. Cooking is my major hobby. I'm also an avid reader, but I have difficulty finding the time. I love to travel. Since moving to Europe I've been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to go a couple of times per year to Paris, as well as having visited London, Rome, Florence, Naples, Amsterdam, and of course Brussels and Antwerp. I've seen at least parts of most regions of France, as well as parts of Germany, Austria, a great deal of Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia, Luxembourg, and Monaco. I'm absolutely in love with the Bay of Naples and Sorrento coast areas of Italy, which my husband and I recently re-visited on a trip that included Rome, Puglia, Umbria and Marche. I'm still looking forward to Ireland, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic . . . the list is too long ! One of the bonuses of travel is getting to taste the local cuisine, and afterward trying to figure out how to duplicate it at home.
I think cooking is one of the nicest things a person can do for someone they love (including themself!)
I had to submit a picture with me and my cat, Sophie, as she insists on sitting in my lap when I'm sitting at the computer. If you are wondering what all that stuff hanging on the wall behind us in the photo is, it is just a small part of my husband's military medal collection. He was appalled by my posting this picture-- Our study is the messiest room in our house (thank god!)
